Recurring concern
Unreliable radiology processes for communicating findings and initiating required follow-up
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Request correctionFirst reported 17 Oct 2014•Latest report 4 Mar 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures in radiology processes for communicating clinically important findings or recommendations, confirming receipt by the responsible clinical team, enabling or initiating recommended additional investigations, and providing required radiologist reporting arrangements when these failures can delay diagnosis or follow-up care.
Not included
- Excludes failures limited to interpretation of images where communication or follow-up is not deficient.
- Excludes generic referral, appointment or investigation delays without a direct radiology finding, recommendation or reporting-process connection.
- Excludes failures in the clinical management of a condition after the radiology finding and required follow-up have been reliably communicated and initiated.
- Excludes generic information-system, staffing or commissioning deficiencies unless they directly impair the radiology communication or follow-up process.
- Excludes the separate abdominal-aortic-aneurysm concern when the assertion is specifically about detection and management of that named condition rather than the radiology follow-up process itself.
- Reports
- 16
- Individual concerns
- 16
- Date range
- 2014–2026
- Stated actions
- 23
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Delays in official radiologist reporting of chest X-rays showing cardiomegaly
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Complete and formalise the radiology policy review to document how clinical teams can expedite imaging reports for clinical concerns.
Stated by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Share the updated radiology escalation guidance with paediatric teams and publish it on the Trust intranet.
Stated by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Formal chest X-ray reporting delays lie outside the respondent’s control.
Stated by Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of reporting radiologists for discussion of radiological findings
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Circulate and share a flow chart setting out escalation contacts for difficult out-of-hours radiologist communication.
Stated by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Delays in specialist reporting of X rays
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Expand Clinical Radiology specialty training places to increase the trained reporting workforce.
Stated by NHS England -
Action
Continue international recruitment of radiologists to support diagnostic capacity, with demand planning underway for further recruitment.
Stated by NHS England -
Action
Deliver the Long Term Workforce Plan, including expanded domestic education, training and recruitment and workforce retention measures.
Stated by NHS England
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Position
NHS Trusts are responsible for ensuring safe staffing levels in hospitals’ current day-to-day operations.
Stated by NHS England
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Position
Local A&E procedures require follow-up of X-ray reports because general X-rays may not receive 24/7 imaging-service reporting.
Stated by NHS England
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Concerns raised1
Failure to highlight significant, unexpected, and important radiological findings to the referring clinician
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Update the Medica Alerts policy to require urgent notification of referrers for potential new TB diagnoses and advise that treatment changes may be needed.
Stated by Medica -
Action
Circulate the updated Medica Alerts policy to all reporters.
Stated by Medica -
Action
Work with clients to enact the 2022 Academy of Royal Colleges and RCR Alerts guidelines within local processes.
Stated by Medica
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Action
Raise Urgent Findings for relevant cases until clients adjust their internal alert processes.
Stated by Medica
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Concerns raised1
Failure to follow up on radiological signs of possible bowel injury
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Redefine the Major Trauma Service so the Major Trauma Consultant leads whole-patient review and liaises with specialty teams.
Stated by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to report CTA findings urgently to requesting doctors
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to make report receipt by the appropriate clinician apparent to the reporting radiologist
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Limited remote access to relevant systems for urgent out-of-hours imaging reporting
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Revisit radiology informatics guidance to verify that imaging equipment specifications are clear and unambiguous.
Stated by Royal College of Radiologists
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Technology access issues are being addressed locally by Tameside General Hospital.
Stated by Royal College of Radiologists
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Concerns raised1
Lack of out-of-hours radiologist reporting arrangements for x-rays
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Provide the surgical department with a designated laptop for the on-call Consultant to securely review imaging remotely and provide advice or attend when necessary.
Stated by Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Existing clinician training and access to on-call consultant radiologists were considered sufficient to identify and manage abnormal out-of-hours x-rays.
Stated by Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure to act on reported x-ray findings
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Include the Emergency Department Injured Elderly NWB Guideline in junior doctor induction and stress discussion of referrals at trauma x-ray meetings.
Stated by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Review and relaunch the injured elderly non-weight-bearing pathway across the Trust to raise clinicians’ awareness.
Stated by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The radiograph and report were viewed by three medical staff and were therefore not reported and ignored.
Stated by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Data last updated 7 September 2026